PENNS CREEK -- Volunteers took turns holding and feeding two female gray squirrels, whose eyes have not yet opened, found by a tree trimmer.

"We get a lot of squirrels from tree services. If people see them out of their nest, it's OK to touch a baby squirrel, baby bunny or a baby bird. It's best to put them back in the nest," said Kathie Guilfoose who, with her husband, Dr. Mark Guilfoose, are licensed wildlife rehabilitators. They, and what are known as sub-permittees, participated in Saturday's Animal Rescue Awareness Day hosted by T & D's Cats of the World Exotic and Wild Animal Refuge which continues from noon to 4 p.m. today. The sub-permittees, who can also rehabilitate wildlife, were Traci Phillips, of New Columbia, Audrey Michaels, of the Milton area, and Joyce Derr, of the Lewisburg area.

This time of year, they get orphaned or injured animals which include flying, red, gray and fox squirrels, chipmunks, songbirds, opossums, waterfowl and "always bunnies," Kathie said.

"When people find bunny nests that have been disturbed by mowing or by dogs or cats, it's best to rebuild the nest and put the bunnies back," she said.

The Guilfooses, who live in the Danville area, care for about 300 animals and birds each year. Because they are the only licensed rehabilitators in this part of the state, people bring them animals and birds from as far as Wellsboro.

They got involved five years ago because they are wildlife lovers and "wanted to give back to the community as a public service," she said. They took courses, passed exams and have to take updated training each year through the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

"My favorite is the logger who brought us a whole log of four baby red-bellied woodpeckers," said Kathie who kept them a couple of months and then released them. "We like to put them back where they came from unless it's too dangerous," she said. They planned to release four flying squirrels Saturday. The two babies and a mother and father came from an attic. The Guilfooses kept them until the youngsters reached a certain age.

Her husband Mark, a family physician at Geisinger, remembered the nurse who found a dead possum along the road. "She saw something moving and reached in the pouch and found 12 babies," he said. "I don't know how she found us, but she did," he said.

In the Guilfoose home, it's not unusual to see wild birds in cages. Their rescues all start out in incubators. Currently, they are caring for 61 birds and animals.

Also participating in the special day were Rainforest Reptile Rescue, of Beverly, Mass.; Lycoming Animal Protection Society which is a no-kill cat shelter and Far Point Animal Rescue caring for dogs, cats and horses.

Leonard, a 30-year-old African Spur Thigh Tortoise, roamed the area, stopping to graze on grass. He was given to the reptile organization by someone who could no longer care for him. With him were other turtles, alligators and snakes.

"In 15 years, the organization has taken in hundreds of animals," herpetologist Kristen Wendling said. The group travels with some of its animals to New England and Pennsylvania and maintains a facility in Massachusetts.

They get them as a result of abuse, neglect or being owned illegally. "People thinking of getting this type of an animal need to think about the space, the time and that it's a life commitment. Some of these animals can outlive them," she said.

Most of the animals at T & D's were pets at one time and had been abused, mistreated or unwanted, said Jennifer Mattive, one of the owners of the rescue where slightly more than 200 animals, including 60 lions and tigers, call home.

During the Wildlife Awareness Day, visitors can tour T & D for a fee. T & D operates from admission fees from the 40 days a year it is open and from donations.